Although engaged to Florence, Harry is again powerfully drawn toward Lady Ongar and fails to make the truth of his engagement sufficiently clear while continuing to seek her company, and Julia begins to believe that his old love for her may still survive as Count Pateroff, Sophie Gordeloup, Archie Clavering, and others complicate her already uncertain position, while Harry recognizes that his behaviour toward Florence is wrong but lacks the strength to choose decisively, sinking further into a conflict between loyalty, desire, and personal honour.